ABSTRACT
Indications for radiotherapy Two approaches can be recommended for curative treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers: primary radiotherapy chemotherapy, or surgery postoperative (chemo)radiation. There are no randomised controlled trials comparing these two approaches, although there is indirect evidence suggesting cure rates are similar. The choice depends on likely functional outcomes, particularly with respect to swallowing and speech, local medical expertise, patients’ ability to tolerate treatment and individual patient choice. Treatment of the primary site and the neck can be considered separately though one modality is usually used as the initial treatment to all sites of disease. Brachytherapy may have a role in combination with EBRT and is considered in Chapter 5.
